News

Kiosk is star of the show for Global Entry Program

May 23, 2013

The Passport and Visa Company, a privately registered company with the U.S. State Department Passport Agencies, Consulates and Embassies, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, today officially announced the opening of registration for the Global Entry program.

All U.S. citizens and permanent residency card holders are eligible to apply. Applicants to the Global Entry program must have a valid passport, and a secondary form of government-issued identification is recommended. A pass is good for five years and costs $100. The application must be submitted online for conditional approval, followed by a scheduled in-person interview.

Pauline Salzer, international document specialist for the Passport and Visa Company, said participants will notice the time shaved off from their international re-entry process. Members of the Global Entry program can scan travel credentials via a kiosk, rather than waiting to appear before a customs official.

"Best-case scenario you're looking at two minutes instead of two hours for re-entry," Salzer said.

Additional benefits include expedited check-in for participating airlines.

"We expect widespread adoption of the program over the next few years, with more airports and airlines competing to offer expedited travel services," said Richard Mendez, director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Read more about kiosks in transportation and travel.